Ventilated open-air indoor broiler having damper means and control therefor

ABSTRACT

VENTILATED OPEN-AIR INDOOR BROILER HAVING DAMPER MEANS AND POSITIONABLE CONTROL THEREOF COMPRISING AN ENERGIZING SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENTS.

3,712,819 PER Jan. 23, 1973 "r. R. FIELD VENTILA'I'ED OPEN-AIR INDOOR BROILER HAVING DAM MEANS AND CONTROL THE FOR Filed Nov 23 1e VENTILATED OPEN-AIR INDOOR BROILER HAVING DAMPER MEANS AND CONTROL THEREFOR Thomas R. Field, 4129 Flamingo W. Drive, Indianapolis, Ind. 46226 Filed Nov. 23, 1971, Ser. No. 201,436 Int. Cl. A47j 37/ 08 U.S. Cl. 99-400 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ventilated open-air indoor broiler having damper means and positionable control therefor comprising an energizing switch for electric heating elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and exhausted therefrom to the atmosphere by ducting (not shown).

The invention herein can be used advantageously, for example, with the broiling apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,444,805 and 3,474,724. The invention is directed to a relationship of a positionable closure or damper at the entrance to a plenum chamber and a physical co operative relationship with electric switch means. Energization of the heating elements and exhaust fan means is prevented when the entrance to the plenum is closed by the damper. Once the damper is opened the switch may be turned for energizing the heating elements and fan means. The damper cannot be lowered for closing the entrance to the plenum as long as the heating elements are energized. This is a safety feature assuring that the damper to the plenum entrance will always be open whenever the heating element is energized, and preventing energization as long as the damper is closed to ventilation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a damper for an air ventilated broiler.

It is another object to provide a safety feature whereby whenever the broiler heating elements are energized for broiling, the damper means must be in open position.

It is still another object of this invention to prevent closure of the damper means at the plenum entrance as long at the heating elements are energized.

It is still another object to disclose a back draft damper for preventing reverse flow of outside air through the plenum into a room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become aparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air ventilated counter top broiler showing the damper means in a position establishing an opening to an air plenum chamber;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the broiler shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a control switch knob in position adjacent a damper in closed position.

United states Patent O ice DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is adaptable for use with a broiler arrangement as disclosed in the preferred embodiment disclosed in the drawings; however, it is also adaptable for use with other broiling or cooking arrangements such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,587,555 or 3,596,650.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown in perspective a counter top drop-in open surface broiler identified generally by the numeral 10. A cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 2. The broiler is comprised generally of the broiling portion and a plenum chamber having power driven fan exhaust means associated therewith. A frame includes a box or chamber 12 defining a recess preferably formed of sheet metal. The box is recessed to the extent of several inches for the purpose of housing broiler and grease collecting component to be described in detail later in the specification. A peripheral portion 14 of the frame surrounds the box and is adapted to overlie an opening in a kitchen counter top 15 and be supported therefrom. Chamber 12 is provided with a plurality of openings. Slotted opening 16 admits cooling air which is drawn therethrough and exhausted through port 21 into air plenum chamber 34. Opening 18 in the bottom of the chamber permits grease and meat juices to fiow into removable jar 32.

Another recessed chamber 19 is received within chamber 12 in fixed spaced relationship with the walls thereof to define insulating spaces 20 through which cooling air may pass for carrying away heat. Chamber 19 is adapted to receive heating or broiling elements 22 just below the top level of the frame. Electrical elements 22 are supported in the position shown in FIG. 2 by an arched wire support member carried above a metal casting 24. The casting in turn is supported above the bottom of chamber 19 by upward protrusions formed in the bottom. Grill 26 overlies the opening in the frame and is disposed above electrical elements 22 for supporting meat in broiling position.

Casting 24 is provided with a grill rock or briquette appearance upper surface and is provided with numerous apertures 26 extending downwardly therethrough. During broiling, fat and meat juices fall onto the casting and drain through apertures 26 onto sloping bottom 28 of chamber 19 to aperture 30 located over central opening 18. It thereafter is collected in removable jar 32 which is screwed into a lid rim under opening 18.

A cross-sectional view of a housing 34, defining an air plenum chamber, is shown in cross-section in FIG. 2. The entrance to the plenum is disposed to one side of and substantially on the level of grill 26.

A damper 36 preferably formed of sheet metal, or as a casting or extrusion, is adapted to be hinged adjacent one side of housing 34. The damper is adapted to be positionable over the entrance to the plenum for the purpose of determining the size of the opening to the plenum chamber of for closing the entrance altogether. As shown in FIG. 2 the damper may be hinged to an upstanding peripheral sheet metal frame 38 at the entrance to the plenum. The damper in the form of a cover is adapted to be received over the peripheral frame for selective closure of the entrance to the plenum. A link bar 40 is connected to damper 36 in a manner for limiting the extent to which the damper can open so that the entrance into the chamber faces across the grill or broiling surface.

Electrical controls 42 for energizing heating elements 22 and fan motor 48 are located to one end of housing 34. Knob 44 for the on-otf switch is provided with a flat portion which is disposed adjacent an end 46 of the damper in a manner which prevents the knob from being turned to operate the switch for energizing electrical broiling elements 22. Whenever damper 36 has been manually raised, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, knob 44 is free for rotation to operate the switch to energize elements 22.

As will be noted in FIG. 1, after knob 44 has been rotated to turn its switch to an on position, a portion of the knob interferes with inadvertent closure of the damper.

This amounts to a safety feature so that electrical broiling elements 22 cannot be energized as long as the damper closes the entrance to the plenum. Once the damper has been raised to expose the entrance to the plenum, knob 44 can be turned so as to energize the electrical broiling elements 22 and motor 48 for driving exhaust fan 50. Air is thereby drawn into the entrance of the plenum from across the surface of grill 26 for the purpose of collecting smoke and fumes caused by broiling. These gases are drawn into the plenum and exhausted by fan 50 through ducting for extending through a building wall to the the atmosphere. As long as elements 22 are energized, knob 44 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, and damper 36 cannot be lowered to close the entrance to the plenum. By the arrangement disclosed, as long as elements 22 are energized, exhaust fan 50 will be operating and damper 36 will be open. Additionally, a small amount of air is drawn through vent opening 16 and around and underneath chamber or pan 19 into the plenum at opening 21 so as to cool the chamber and prevent heat build-up sufficient to support combustion. It also prevents excessive heat to be conducted to the kitchen counter top.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed. Obviously the invention can have various modifications made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A cooking device adapted to be received in a counter top comprising:

frame means supporting electrical heating elements and an overlying grill for supporting meat for indoor open air broiling,

an air plenum chamber to one side of the frame having an entrance disposed adjacent the grill,

power driven fan means in communication with the plenum chamber and adapted for connection with ducting for extending through a building wall to the atmosphere,

positionable damper means at the entrance to the plenum chamber having means defining a controllable opening facing across the broiler whereby upon operation of the fan means air is drawn into the plenum from across the grill for collecting smoke and fumes rising from meat being broiled thereon and exhausting them to the atmosphere,

means for energizing the electrical heating elements including means adjacent the positionable damper whereby the heating elements cannot be energized when the damper means is in a position closing the entrance to the plenum.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the energizing means adjacent the positionable damper interferes with movement of the positionable damper means into a position for closing the entrance to the plenum chamber when the heating elements are energized.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the means adjacent the positionable damper is a control knob for an electric switch including a portion adapted when turned to interfere with the closing of the plenum entrance by said positionable damper.

4. The inveniton according to claim 3 wherein the control knob portion is adapted to underlie the positionable damper.

5. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the means adjacent the positionable damper is a control knob for an electric switch which is inoperable when the damper is in closed position, and having a portion, when turned for operating the switch, to interfere with a closing of the damper from an open position.

6. A cooking device adapted to be received in a counter top comprising:

frame means supporting electrical heating elements and an overlying grill for supporting meat in broiling position,

anair plenum chamber adjacent the frame means having an entrance disposed to one side of the grill, power driven fan means in communication with the plenum chamber and with ducting for extending through a building wall to the atmosphere,

positionable damper means at the plenum entrance for controlling the opening to the entrance whereby upon operation of the fan means air is drawn across the grill for collectnig smoke and odor laden gases from broiling meat for exhausting them to the atmosphere,

switch means for simultaneously energizing the fan means and heating elements,

said switch means including means rendering the switch inoperative when the damper means is in a position closing the entrance to the plenum. 7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the switch means is operative only when the damper is in a position defining an opening at the plenum entrance.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein, after the damper means is raised to an open position and the switch operated for energization, the damper cannot be repositioned to close the opening as long as the switch is energized.

9. The invention according to claim 6 wherein linkage means limits travel of the damper to a position out of operable position with the control means.

10. The invention according to claim 7 wherein linkage means limits travel of the damper to a position out of operable position with the control means. 11. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the damper means when in closed position defines a backdraft damper for preventing reverse passage of outside air out through the plenum entrance into a room.

12. A cooking device defining a counter top broiler comprising:

frame means supporting electrical heating elements and overlying grill means for supporting meat in broiling position in relation to said heating elements,

air moving means including ducting and having an entrance thereto disposed substantially to one side of the grill whereby air is drawn thereinto from across the grill for collecting smoke and cooking fumes from boiling meats for exhausting to the atmosphere,

positionable damper means at said entrance,

means for holding the damper in a position to ensure an opening to said entrance whenever said heating elements are energized.

13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein the damper when in a position closing the opening to said entrance prevents operation of means for energizing said heating elements.

14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein the damper in closed position prevents rotation of a knob of the heating element energizing switch.

15. The invention according to claim 13 wherein said means for holding the damper in an open position is an electric switch knob turned for energizing the heating elements.

16. In an indoor open-air broiler having a broiling surface and an air plenum chamber having an inlet adjacent the broiling surface whereby power driven fan means in communication with the plenum and with exhaust air ducting is adapted to draw air from across the broiler for collecting cooking smoke and fumes for exhausting them through the ducting to the atmosphere, the improvement comprising:

damper means at the inlet,

and means for holding the damper open Whenever said means is selectively positioned for energizing electrical elements of the broiler. 17. The invention according to claim 16 wherein said damper means, when in closed position, prevents operation of said energizing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Cable 99-446 X Happell et al. 99-340 Jenn 99-340 X Berger 219-460 X Cerola 126-37 R X Cerola 126-37 R VOLODYMYR Y. MAYEWSKY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

